Prison Ministry Update

Going into our fourth year of prison ministry at Pocahontas State Correctional Center, we would like to share some of the many blessings we have received with some of the more than 1100 prisoners there. Each Tuesday night we hold a scripture class with faith sharing from a Catholic perspective.

For years and years, there was nobody available to serve the sacramental needs of the Catholic prisoners there. We share scripture, discuss our understandings of it, and allow the Spirit to direct the flow of ideas and prayers offered by each participant.

During the last four years we were able to get Fr. Les Schmidt to come three or four times a year to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, particularly on the liturgical holidays.

We are pleased to announce that Fr. Jugene has agreed to and been trained to celebrate Reconciliation and Mass once a month! This is such a significant event for the men at the prison who have not had much opportunity to practice their faith and nurture their Catholic roots.

These prisoners are, after all, members of our church family and parish, and, like the early Christians in Acts of the Apostles, we should see to it that the needs of all members are met. Thank you, Fr. Jugene, on behalf of our incarcerated brothers, for joining us in serving those in prison.

All people want to be accepted and loved, no matter what the circumstances. People in prison are no different. In our weekly class we try to do just that – love and accept each one and appreciate their uniqueness and gifts.

Some of the men have said that the time we spend with them is the highlight of their week. They look forward to coming to class because, for ninety minutes, they may still be in prison but they are “free”.

They have little control over their lives, the prison dictates what they may or may not do. They have no choices to make for meals, activities, or even daily events. One of the few choices they can make is whether or not to attend a religious service or class. And they come, each week, to share their spiritual journeys and break open the Word of God. Now they can also receive the sacraments.

Though they may possess very few items, we have been impressed by the nature of their sharing with one another, and the sacrifices they make for one another when it would least be expected. During Lent, for instance, many of the men in our group tried to fulfill their Lenten challenge of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by giving their meal tray to another as an act of generosity. Some gave commissary items to others in need.

Some fasted from gossip and negativity by just holding their tongues instead of speaking unkindly about another. Many of the men in the group try very hard to show what they believe by how they live their daily lives, even in prison, and even surrounded by the intense evil that that is also present there. These men don’t “have to go to church”, like many of us have often said. They want to get closer to God. And they are so grateful for anyone who helps them on their spiritual journeys, anyone who accepts them for who they are, warts and all. Please keep them in your prayers. They are our brothers. They are Christ.

Matthew 25:40 really gets it right: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.”

Many of these men in prison know true humility. The very fact that they are in prison means their sin is before them. Everyone knows by virtue of their mailing address that they made some poor choices along the way, and because of where it got them, they are humbled and ready to try something different. That something different is an authentic relationship with God and community. Those in the “free” world can sometimes hide behind false piety. We need to nurture and support those in prison in their efforts to be good Christians, to have a deepening relationship with Jesus.

The biggest lessons we learn from our time serving the men in prison is that we each are called to love others where they are and for who they are, not for where and who we want them to be. It’s not what we do, but rather the relationships we share that make the biggest difference.

Please support our brothers in prison with your prayers, and include them in our Holy Family. And thank Fr. Jugene for his willingness to serve Christ in prison. As members of the body of Christ, we all benefit.